Metropolitan employees in a suspended platform, working on the Foothill Feeder project.
Photo by Judy Turner.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT MET THIS WEEK
A weekly newsletter by and for Metropolitan employees
February 19, 2019
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Gov. Newsom Addresses Key Water Issues
When Governor Newsom delivered his State of the State speech last week, water was one of the top issues he addressed.

“We…need a fresh approach when it comes to meeting California’s massive water challenges,” Newsom told an audience of legislators at the State Capitol and many watching online. “Our water supply is becoming less reliable because of climate change. And our population is growing because of a strong economy. That means a lot of demand on an unpredictable supply. There are no easy answers,” he said.

The governor highlighted Metropolitan’s regional recycled water project as a positive example of a “portfolio approach to building water infrastructure and meeting long-term demand.” Operation on the demonstration plant is scheduled to begin this spring.

On California WaterFix, Governor Newsom expressed support to improve conveyance in the Delta, but backs a single tunnel project. “The status quo is not an option. We need to protect our water supply from earthquakes and rising sea levels, preserve delta fisheries, and meet the needs of cities and farms.”

Metropolitan’s board last year voted to support and provide financing to construct a two-tunnel project.

General Manager Jeff Kightlinger issued a statement saying “Metropolitan welcomes Governor Newsom’s endorsement of modernizing California’s water conveyance system in the Delta. We intend to work constructively with the Newsom Administration on developing a refined California WaterFix project that addresses the needs of cities, farms and the environment.”

A Foothill Feeder
Fish Story
Since February 4, more than 80 Metropolitan employees have been working 24/7 to complete the Foothill Feeder shutdown. The Department of Water Resources, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency and Metropolitan have worked together to inspect, modify and repair their respective portions of the feeder.

The Foothill Feeder extends from Castaic Lake to Magazine Canyon, near the Jensen Water Treatment Plant in Granada Hills. The main driver for the shutdown was to perform a prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) inspection. PCCP inspections are typically performed every five years.

While the shutdown and inspection of the Foothill Feeder was fairly routine, one of the big challenges was managing unique environmental issues including protecting an endangered fish species known as the Three-Spined Stickleback.

The rate of discharge of water into the Santa Clara River had to be carefully monitored to alleviate disturbances to the fish. Considering the fact that the Foothill Feeder is 16 miles long, with portions as large as 16 feet in diameter, dewatering the pipeline was done extremely carefully to protect the fish and its habitat.

While rain is usually a cause for delay in construction and repair projects, in this case the rain was actually a good thing because it helped ensure fish would not be stranded.

The shutdown was scheduled to be completed on February 22 but - as of last week - was proceeding ahead of schedule.

“Although, every shutdown is led by the Shutdown Project Manager, what makes a shutdown successful is the effort put forth by everyone involved. It is definitely a group effort. Everyone steps up to the plate to get the job done,” says Shutdown Program Manager Lorraine Aoys .
New Opportunities Fuel His Adventurous Spirit
David Price is about to head north and begin his new job as the Business Support Team Manager for Metropolitan’s Sacramento office. But moving to follow his dreams is nothing new for David .

Growing up in Texas, he moved to California after graduating from the University of Houston, and worked at USC and the Screen Actors Guild before coming to Metropolitan about five years ago. He has also traveled all over the world with his brother, a flight attendant, often with hardly any advance notice. Now, he prepares to move to another city and is excited about the job and getting to know his new community.

“I follow opportunity because that brings growth,” David says.

Those who know David for his strong business skills might be surprised to learn that he is also a classically trained musician with a Bachelor’s degree in Opera Performance and Classical Literature. “I started out as a business major, but an instructor saw my raw talent and convinced me to study music.” Part of his degree required coursework in foreign languages (he’s completed college classes in German, Italian, Spanish and French) to be able to properly perform a full range of classical music pieces.

David jokes about the parallels of being a performer with his interview for this new position. “When you’ve auditioned for a role in a 1,000-seat auditorium in front of all your competitors, speaking to a three-person panel in a job interview is a lot less intimidating,” he says.

Though he’ll be working in Sacramento, David hopes he can still occasionally perform with the BEA choir and help on other events, including Solar Cup, where he’s volunteered for several years. 

“I love adventure,” David says, “and this new job is a journey I’m looking forward to.” 
New hires, transfers, promotions & retirements are posted here each month.   
NEXT LIST: MARCH 4
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